Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided distal blocks for analgesia without motor blockade after ambulatory hand surgery.

Purpose: To assess the suitability of ultrasound-guided (USG), single-injection distal block(s) for pain management after outpatient hand and wrist bone surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 125 of 198 consecutive ambulatory surgery patients who underwent hand and wrist bone surgery between June 2010 and January 2012. All patients received a USG axillary block using a short-acting local anesthetic (lidocaine) and secondary 1, 2, or 3 (median, radial, or ulnar) USG distal analgesic block(s) using a long-acting local anesthetic (ropivacaine).